Raine Island Beacon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raine Island Beacon |
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Beacon built at Raines Islet by Edwin Augustus Porcher, 1844
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| Location | Eastern end of Raine Island, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1844 |
| Official name: Raine Island Beacon | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600432 |
| Significant period | 1844-1870s (historical) |
| Significant components | views to, lighthouse/light station, views from |
| Builders | convicts |
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The Raine Island Beacon is a historic tower located on the eastern side of Raine Island in Queensland, Australia. It was built a long time ago, in 1844, by people called convicts who were sent to Australia as a form of punishment. This special beacon is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history and needs to be protected.
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History of the Raine Island Beacon
Ships traveling north from Australia to Asia often used a route through the Great Barrier Reef to Torres Strait. This area was known for many shipwrecks, which are accidents where ships are destroyed at sea. To help guide ships and prevent these accidents, the Raine Island Beacon was built in 1844.
The beacon was mostly made from materials found right on the island. Workers used coral limestone from the island and shells to make lime for the mortar, which is like glue for stones. They even used timber from a ship called the Martha Ridgway, which had been wrecked nearby in 1842.
The beacon was meant to be a landmark for ships and a safe place for sailors if their ships crashed. However, it soon became less important after a new, safer shipping route was found.
Later, in 1890, a company started mining guano on Raine Island. Guano is the droppings of seabirds and bats, which was used as a valuable fertilizer. About 100 Chinese workers were brought to the island for this mining work. You can still see where they dug up the guano all over the island. There are also a few graves, including one with a tombstone for Annie Eliza Ellis, who died in 1891.
No mining or other big business has happened on the island since 1892. But the beacon tower has been used unofficially for sending messages. Hundreds of messages have been written on its inner walls by visitors over the years. Today, Raine Island is a very important home for many kinds of wildlife, and the old beacon built by convicts is still a main feature of the island.
What the Raine Island Beacon Looks Like
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The Raine Island Beacon is a very strong and tall structure. It stands about 12 meters (about 39 feet) high. Its base is about 9 meters (about 30 feet) wide. You can see it from ships up to 13 nautical miles away, which is a long distance!
The beacon is made from good quality coral limestone. The stones were carefully shaped to make the tower smooth and curved, both inside and out. It's shaped like a cylinder, which is like a big tube. The tower gets narrower in four steps as it goes up. At the very top, it has a parapet, which is like a wall with square openings, similar to the top of a castle.
A special rod made of copper runs from the top to the bottom on the east side. This is a lightning conductor, which protects the beacon from lightning strikes. The only opening in the walls is a rounded doorway. Above this door, you can see the letters "VR" and the date "1844" carved into the stone. "VR" stands for "Victoria Regina," which means Queen Victoria, who was the queen at that time. There are also two stone plaques above the doorway, but the writing on them has worn away and can't be read anymore.
Inside, the beacon originally had three wooden floors. People would use ladders to climb between these levels. The very top of the beacon used to have a dome-shaped roof made of wooden ribs covered with canvas fabric.
Why the Raine Island Beacon is Important
The Raine Island Beacon was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site for several reasons:
A Glimpse into Queensland's Past
The beacon was built way back in 1844. It was one of the first important structures in Queensland. It shows us how people tried to make sea travel safer a long time ago. It also connects to the history of the penal system, which is how convicts were used for labor, and the early industries on the island.
A Unique Historical Structure
This beacon is special because it's an early navigation aid built from stone on a small, isolated coral island. There aren't many other structures like it, which makes it a rare part of Queensland's history.
A Beautiful Landmark
The beacon is also important because of how it looks. It's a landmark that stands out in its isolated ocean setting. Its old, natural materials and the way it was built give it a special charm. It reminds us of the hard work and skill of the people who built it so long ago.
